Canal & River Trust

Lee Navigation

24 miles of navigable water, 19 locks, 4 named marinas and moorings. Passes Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Hertford, Hoddesdon, Tottenham, Waltham Cross, Ware.

Will your boat fit?

BoatSizeFits?
Narrowboat57ft × 6ft 10inFits
Long narrowboat70ft × 6ft 10inFits
Widebeam60ft × 10ftFits
Widebeam60ft × 12ftFits
Dutch barge70ft × 14ft 6inFits

Length and beam against Canal & River Trust. “Some sections” means your boat is too big for at least one section or lock. Draught and headroom aren't checked here: see the table below.

BroxbourneCheshuntHertfordHoddesdonTottenhamWaltham CrossWare

Published size limits

Maximum boat sizes in metres, from the Canal & River Trust's waterway dimensions (page last edited 26 Mar 2026). “–” means the Trust doesn't give a figure.

SectionLengthBeamDraughtHeadroom
Below Old Ford Locks (entering from Limehouse)25.915.791.762.13
Below Old Ford Locks (entering from Bow)29.85.881.32.6
Old Ford Locks to Ponders End25.915.51.522.13
Ponders End to Hertford22.864.721.32.11

Marinas and moorings

Each opens its Check a Mooring page: what's nearby on the water and ashore.

Services on the water

Mapped within 150 m of the Lee Navigation in OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map these, so there are gaps.

Water points 10

  • Carthegena Lock Water Point
  • Eastway Water Point
  • Feildes Lock Water Point
  • Hertford Basin Water Point
  • Old Ford Lock Water Point
  • Picketts Lock Water Point
  • Ponders End Water Point
  • Stanstead Lock Water Point
  • Stonebridge Water Point

1 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Elsan disposal 5

  • Feildes Lock Elsan Point
  • Hertford Basin Elsan Point
  • Old Ford Lock Elsan Point
  • Stonebridge Elsan Point

Pump-out 1

  • Eastway Pump Out

Boat fuel 0

None mapped.

Rubbish disposal 28

  • Hertford Basin Rubbish Disposal
  • Old Ford Lock Rubbish Disposal
  • Stonebridge Rubbish Disposal

25 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Winding holes 1

1 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Questions

Can a widebeam go on the Lee Navigation?

Yes. A 60ft × 10ft widebeam is within every published limit on the Lee Navigation.

Will a 57ft narrowboat fit on the Lee Navigation?

Yes. A 57ft × 6ft 10in narrowboat is within every published limit on the Lee Navigation.

How long is the Lee Navigation, and how many locks does it have?

About 24 miles of navigable water on our map, with 19 locks mapped in OpenStreetMap.